I Have a Seat at My Table Reserved Just For You!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

"First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.

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Today we celebrated two August birthdays at Cindy's house. We were a group of five, and Cindy laid a marvelous tablescape for us in her wonderful breakfast room and kitchen.

Cindy is a genius at using high color combinations...certainly sets the mood for a celebration! They've recently made some changes to the breakfast room. The custom narrow table, chairs and woven benches are perfect for casual entertaining.

I always like to sit facing this amazing hutch...so many fantastic treasures to spy inside the glassed cabinets. Okay, you rooster devotees, did you notice the rooster tassle hanging on the right cabinet door?

Love the new pair of host and hostess chairs...great fabric!

MacKenzie-Childs "Courtly Check" flower pots marched down the center of the table, filled with Alstromeria and Kermit Mums. With a minimum of space available for a centerpiece, the pots were the perfect choice for maximum impact. The lucite goblets with painted pink flowers added a festive, whimsical touch.

The loose-weave napkins were caught with tasseled napkin rings from Pier One that I gave Cindy when it was her birthday.

Cindy is a fan of placemats, and green is her favorite color. The apple green boutis mats were charming as a foundation for each placesetting. The Caspari rattan chargers added a nice texture beneath the Pottery Barn "PB Basic" buffet plate. Our luncheon plate was the MacKenzie-Childs "Courtly Check". Our first course was a homemade Avocado Cucumber chilled soup, served in the teal stoneware bowl. The black and white toile accent plate was found at Hobby Lobby.

It's always a treat to be a guest at Cindy's table. We sat long into the afternoon visiting and laughing with precious friends over a delicious lunch of Tortellini Pasta Salad, hot bread, homemade cherry sherbet, and chocolate cupcakes. I can't think of a better way to spend a summer day.

Thank you, yet again, to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her magical meme, "Tablescape Thursday. I'll be linking my post to "Tablescape Thursday." Hop on over HERE and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 9:00 pm on Wednesdays. You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.

When I think of summer, I think easy going afternoons shared with friends over a no fuss table. How about you? With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts, I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her meme Seasonal Sundays. Don't miss out on this marvelous blog party. See you there!

You can check out KC's music at www.kcclifford.com, on iTunes, and on YouTube. I hope that you'll take a few minutes and give her a listen. You'll also enjoy reading back through her blog on this site. The girl can really write! Her latest CD is called "Orchid." It is available on iTunes or through her website. I hope that you'll give her music a chance. I know that I have zero objectivity where she is concerned, but I think that you'll fall in love with her music and her!

36 comments:

Cherry Kay, I'm so glad you shared this lovely table. You are right, your dear friend has the wonderful gift of mixing colors perfectly. How great the setting. Love the hutch too and you are right, so many lovelies to look at. Those turq pot/bowls are my favs.. unexpected and so very "cool"... xo marlis

What a beautiful and fun tablescape! I love the color mixes, black is so great with strong color combos! I love the chairs, the bench, the turquoise soup bowls and the flowered goblets...so whimsy! I'm sure you all had so much fun! FABBY

"Birds of the same feather flock together". I can already prove it true by this gorgeous tablescape. Cindy is another talented one! Love her colorful table and kitchen. It's delightful all around!...Christine

Hi lovely lady.Your Tablescape is Beautiful !!! I love the black and white together with the aqua.. You know I love the lime placemats !! I also have the same color.. You did a great job sweet lady. Maybe you can come Visit my new Tablescape. Have a great week.XXOO Diane

What fun! How wonderful to be able to sit and look at the hutch and all the treasures it contains. I love the color of this table, especially those teal stoneware bowls. How wonderful to share this lovely table with good friends!

I want to know more about Cindy's teal bowls with the two handles - they sure are cute. I was reading recently about the lady who bought McKenzie-Childs and all their legal woes over the bankruptcy. Made me think differently about the brand's china and throw my support to the original creative owners. Seems that you ladies always have a very fun time!

First of all, I LOVE her kitchen!!! It looks spacious and homey and warm...just the type of kitchen that makes one feel loved and welcome. The slimmer table and benches...sheer genius! What a great solution to a space problem (which she doesn't seem to have, but it still looks great!) in a smaller eat-in area like mine. I can see why you love to sit facing the hutch. It's great! She has quite the collection there! I love all the color! It's so energizing!!!

I love that you share so many special (real life) events you share with your beloved family and friends. This table, along with everything on it and in its surroundings, looks warm, comfortable, inviting, and somehow both earthy and elegant! The pops of vivid color and the subtle mixtures of patterns work together beautifully.

Just beautiful, what time should I arrive? LOL! I love your setting, and the china is just glorious. You always do such a good job with these tablescapes - inspirational for sure!

Listen, I have a new series on my blog called: "A Picture is Worth ..." I'm trying to get back to posting pictures about my house, and I'd love it if you'd come by and see the bar in the dining room! :)

About Me

I was 40 before I realized that I am an artist. I love to paint, work in clay, rubber stamping, design tablescapes, entertain, and share ideas. I'm an interior designer wanna-be...no credentials, but lots of experience. I have a degree in English, and I taught high school until my second child was born...that was long ago. I've been married for 44 years, and we believe that our marriage has flourished because of sweet Jesus in our lives. Hal is my best friend...if I had to choose over, I'd still choose him. My most precious friends are my Garden Friends, the name of my Bible study group of 26 years. The name? Jesus took his best friends with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane. That's what we pray to be...good enough friends that we would be the kind of friends that Jesus would want to take with Him to the garden...The Garden Friends.